The Miami Marlins kick off a new month after encouraging results to end a dreadful May. Although the Marlins went 10-19 in May, they did capture two of their final three series, including a road set in New York this past weekend.
Miami (20-31), fourth in the National League East, hosts the Chicago Cubs (26-22) for three games, beginning on Monday night. The Cubs went 14-14 in May, but dropped five of their final eight. Still, they sit second in the NL Central standings.
With three members of the rotation on the disabled list, rookie Jose Urena gets his second big-league start and makes his Marlins Park debut on Monday. In Pittsburgh, he surrendered five runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings for the loss. After five straight quality starts, righty Jason Hammel dropped his last outing in Arizona by giving up four runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk over seven frames. He is 1-3 with a 4.86 ERA in eight games (six starts) against the Marlins.
On Tuesday, lefty Brad Hand starts for the second time this year. He pitched five scoreless innings against the Pirates, striking out two and walking none. His pitch count of 74 marked a season high. The Cubs have won three straight starts by Kyle Hendricks. Since allowing five runs three outings ago, he has limited offenses to one run on nine hits over 16 frames. Neither pitcher has faced the opposing club.
A pair of veterans will toe the rubber in the finale. The Cubs signed southpaw Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million deal this offseason. In May, he threw seven innings in all but one of his six starts. A lack of run support, however, made Chicago winless over the final two outings, including a 10-strikeout, one-earned run performance against the Washington Nationals. Since a rocky homecoming in southern California, righty Dan Haren has given up four runs in 21 innings over his past three starts.
Miami and Chicago are tied at 86 wins apiece in the all-time series, including a 5-5 record at Marlins Park (41-41 overall in South Florida). The Cubs took four of the six contests last year.
Here's a look at the upcoming Cubs-Marlins three-game series:
SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHERS
WHO'S HOT
1B Anthony Rizzo (Cubs): A South Floridian, Rizzo returns to Marlins Park after a productive homestand, going 6 for 18 (.333) with two doubles, two walks and a hit by pitch. He has hit seven homers in his past 27 games.
1B Justin Bour (Marlins): Bour went 6 for 15 with three runs, three homers and five RBI during the roadtrip. He has hit a dinger in three straight games. In 13 games started, Bour is .327 (16 for 49). With Michael Morse on the disabled list, expect Bour to continue starting with righties on the mound.
WHO'S NOT
CF Dexter Fowler (Cubs): Fowler finished the homestand 1 for 20 with a homer, one walk and 10 strikeouts. His average has dropped from .258 to .235. He last collected multiple hits on May 15, a span of 13 games.
CF Marcell Ozuna (Marlins): Until going 1 for 2 on Sunday coming off the bench, Ozuna had gone 3 for 21 with a run and a double to open the roadtrip. Since a three-hit, two RBI performance on May 24 against the Baltimore Orioles, Ozuna hasn't driven in a run â a stretch of six games.
STORYLINES
13: Hit by pitches for Anthony Rizzo, tops in the majors
.385: Average for Chris Coghlan against the Marlins, the organization that he started out with, in six games (three starts)
2,877: Hits for Ichiro Suzuki, tied with Omar Vizquel for 40th on the all-time list
25th: Round selection of Justin Bour by the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 draft
QUOTE BOARD
"This is going to turn in a positive way. But the two-out runs, it's a little demoralizing. We've got to capitalize on our opportunities when we have two outs and men in scoring position." -- Manager Dan Jennings, to reporters in New York, on the two-out rallies for and against the Marlins.
"It's frustrating -- the last couple of times out, I've put us in a hole early. It's really frustrating going out there giving up a run in the first, a run in the second, a run in the third. I've got to do a better job out of the gate, and giving us a chance to get a lead." -- Right-hander David Phelps, to reporters in New York, on his last three outings.
PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS
June 1 -- Monday Madness Group Offer; South Florida Heroes Monday presented by Outback Steakhouse; All You Can Eat Seats
June 2 -- Social Media Night: The #RewriteTheFuture Series; Miami Herald Half Price Tuesday
June 3 -- Wine Down Wednesdays; Chevron Crazy 8's Wednesday; Kids Eat Free Wednesday Night
LOOKING AHEAD
The Marlins have Thursday off before embarking on a six-game trip that begins on Friday in Colorado against the Rockies.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
